The occasional jottings of a middle-aged husband and father who can see Detroit from his house.

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Saturday, March 22, 2003

Details about the Missal quoted below.

The Missal measures 2.75" X 4.25", and has 128 pages. The cover is a durable (obviously!) black leather. It is titled My Military Missal, and the cover also indicates that it was "Edited by Father Stedman for All Branches of the Armed Forces." Fr. Joseph Stedman was apparently the Director of the Confraternity of the Precious Blood in Brooklyn, New York. It was issued in December 1942, and is appropriately dedicated to "Our Lady of Victory and Queen of Peace."

The Missal itself is pretty comprehensive, containing seven (abridged) orders of Mass from the "Missale Castrense" which were used by Catholic chaplains in all of the Armed Forces. Citing St. Pius X, it encourages--wait for it--"active participation" in the Mass.

In addition, there is a weekly catechism reflection on the Creed (which would have mortally offended Fr. Feeney on the question of extra ecclesiam nulla salis) and Sacraments, and a large selection of Catholic Prayers. The last item includes repeated injunctions to learn the act of Perfect Contrition, for sadly obvious reasons.

Finally, the back cover is truly remarkable: it functions as a bas-relief Rosary, complete with a cross and full set of raised "beads."